Book Review: As You Wish

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride 
By: Cary Elwes
Published: Touchstone
Page Count: 259

Source: Library Audiobook
Audience/Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound. 

If you are a fan of the movie (or book), not picking up this entertaining account from behind-the-scenes of the 1987 cult classic would be INCONCEIVABLE! (Sorry, I had to do it.). In this nonfiction/memoir, Cary Elwes shares funny, poignant, and hilarious tales from the making of The Princess Bride. Even a casual fan of the movie will thoroughly enjoy this book, and not just because it's better than a land war in Asia. If nothing else, at least consider reading it as an alternative to suicide. ;) (Again, I sorta had to, didn't I?)

In As You Wish, The Man in Black is joined by Buttercup, Inigo Montoya, Miracle Max, and all your other favorites (with a few notable exceptions, due to the passing of Andre the Giant and Peter Falk) who come together to spin a tale of wonder, mystery, and creation behind one of the most widely quoted and beloved movies of all time. The book, which is a combination nonfiction account of making the movie and a memoir by Elwes, is far better than I expected and reads very much like the movie it celebrates -- touching, adventurous, humorous, a bit campy, and certainly able to laugh at itself. 

From the love letters to pretty much every cast member that director Rob Reiner pens, to the adoring way Robin Wright retells the first time she laid eyes on a young Wesley (Elwes), to Fred Savage's poignant memories of working with Peter Falk, and Billy Crystal and Carol Kane's hilarious accounts of their scenes together, this book really does make you feel like you're a part of the cast. (There was so much I didn't know about Andre the Giant, who seems like one of the nicest, most wonderful people ever to have walked the planet.) And you absolutely get the sense that this was, and is still, something incredibly special and revered in all of their lives. For them, making this movie was true love. You think that happens every day? ;)

Summary via Goodreads

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets, backstage stories, and answers to lingering questions about off-screen romances that have plagued fans for years!

With a foreword by Rob Reiner and a limited edition original poster by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film.